Tag: Lorenzo Lingard

Former Tulane running back transferring to Florida

Florida’s running backs room just got a little bit larger with the addition of former Tulane back Cameron Carroll.

After five years with the Tulane Green Wave, running back [autotag]Cameron Carroll[/autotag] is transferring to the University of Florida.

The veteran back replaces a pair of outgoing rushers in the portal, [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] (USF) and [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] (Akron). Of course, [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] will return as Florida’s primary backs, and the Gators also added [autotag]Treyaun Webb[/autotag] in the most recent recruiting class.

Snaps won’t come easy to Carroll, but he should be able to work his way into the offense, especially as Webb takes time to find his footing in the college game. He is the eighth player to transfer to Florida this offseason and brings the scholarship total up to 81.

Carroll missed most of 2021 after undergoing foot surgery following the first game of the season. He rushed for a team-high 741 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2020 but took a step back in 2021 with 546 yards and three scores. Last year, the Gators used a steady mix of running backs, though, so Carroll will get plenty of reps over the spring and summer as Napier figures out the rotation.

Out of high school, Carroll was an underrated prospect. He was a two-star prospect by 247Sports’ measure and ranked No. 138 at his position. He’s already achieved more than most expected at the college level, and spending one year in the SEC could get the right eyes on him before a potential run at the NFL. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining while at Florida.

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Florida redshirt sophomore running back announces transfer portal entry

Another player has announced their departure from the Florida football program.

The conclusion of Florida football’s 2022 regular season was expected to be followed by the departure of plenty of players as [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and his staff continue to rebuild the Gators’ program. While it is difficult to see some of these young men leave Gainesville, it is usually a mutually beneficial parting.

On Friday afternoon, another member of this year’s squad added their name to the outbound list when fourth-year sophomore running back [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] announced that he will enter the NCAA transfer portal via his Twitter account. His declaration follows that of fellow backfield teammate [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag], who made his intentions known on Thursday.

Also among the recent departures are redshirt freshman wide receiver [autotag]Daejon Reynolds[/autotag], who also entered the transfer portal, and [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag], who declared for the 2023 NFL draft — both of who made their announcements on Thursday as well.

Wright saw the most action during his second and third years in Gainesville in which he played in 11 and 12 games, respectively. His efforts peaked in 2021 when he ran 76 times for 326 yards and a touchdown while also catching a pass for another score as well. The 5-foot-9-inch, 202-pound back played in just seven games in 2022, carrying the ball 47 times for 190 yards for two touchdowns.

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Florida running back and special teams player to enter transfer portal

The senior running back has announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal, one of many expected to depart the Florida program this offseason

Florida Gators redshirt junior running back [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] has announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. Because he graduated from Florida this year, Lingard is eligible to enter the portal at any time as a graduate student.

A former five-star recruit, Lingard, an Orange City, FL native, was a part of Miami’s 2018 recruiting class. He enrolled early in the spring of 2018 and spent two seasons as a Miami Hurricane. As a true freshman in 2018, the former No. 25 overall player in the nation had 17 rushes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

He played in two games in 2019 before his season ended due to a leg injury. He played in six games across both seasons before transferring to Florida ahead of the 2020 season.

Lingard’s transfer came before the one-time “free” transfer rule came into effect in ahead of the 2021 season, meaning he had to apply for a waiver to be immediately eligible — which is exactly what happened.

Lingard’s time in Gainesville was not as fruitful as he would have expected. In 2020 and 2021, he played in 22 games and recorded just 16 rushes for 75 yards and no touchdowns. In 2022, he appeared in ten games (mostly on special teams) and had just 10 rushes for 75 yards and one touchdown.

Lingard’s departure is one of many that the Gators will see this offseason, as Florida is expected to be active in the transfer portal. That isn’t a surprise, as Napier tries to shape the roster in his image.

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5 major takeaways from Florida’s blowout win over Eastern Washington

Florida got out to an early lead against Eastern Washington and never looked back. Here’s what we learned about the Gators from the victory.

The Florida Gators dominated the Eastern Washington Eagles on Sunday,  52-17.

A blowout win is expected whenever Florida gets the chance to host an FCS squad, but last year’s debacle against Samford proved that these games can’t always be taken for granted. The defense didn’t look hot through the first few drives of this game, but the offense seized the momentum early and the rest of the team fell in line.

Eastern Washington managed to score a pair of touchdowns once the second team came in, but this was a Florida win all the way. It’s hard to learn anything from a contest with a skill gap as big as this one, but the second team coming helps us assess Florida’s depth at certain positions. With that in mind, this week’s takeaways will focus on the freshmen, backups and reserves that impressed the most.

Florida needed a big win after facing three top-20 opponents through the first four weeks of the season, and this should help boost the team’s confidence heading into another conference matchup.

Florida updates depth chart ahead of Week 2 matchup with Kentucky

Florida’s week two depth chart looks pretty similar to what Billy Napier submitted ahead of the Utah game, but there are a few key changes that could make a difference on Saturday.

Florida football released its Week 2 depth chart on Wednesday, and [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has made very few changes following an upset win over then No. 7 Utah.

Long snapper [autotag]Marco Ortiz[/autotag] joined the injury report this week and is one of five Gators out for Saturday’s contest against Kentucky. Replacing him is [autotag]Rocco Underwood[/autotag], and [autotag]Chase Whitfield[/autotag] is the backup. Other than that, Florida stayed relatively healthy through week one and returns all offensive and defensive starters for Week 2.

The one addition to the depth chart is running back [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] in the fourth-string spot behind [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag], [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag]. He didn’t receive a carry after being left off the Week 1 chart, but was back in the gym the night of the victory. This could be a sign that he’ll be in the mix this week against the Wildcats.

Another minor change worth noting is [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] has lone possession of the starting slot receiver spot. [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] previously received an “OR” designation, but Pearsall was Richardson’s favorite target in Week 1 and is the clear No. 1 there.

Cornerback [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] could be coming off the injury report in the next few weeks. Napier said he returned to practice and is expected to be back soon.

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2023 Florida Football Season Preview: Running Backs

Is it finally Nay’Quan Wright’s time to shine at Florida or will the Louisiana transfer who followed his coach win out the starting running back job?

The quarterback controversy in Gainesville during the 2021 season may have overshadowed how badly the running back room was handled, but there’s hope [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and position coach [autotag]Jabbar Juluke[/autotag] will provide the right template for success on the ground in their first season at Florida.

Unfortunately, the team lost its top two running backs from a year ago to the NFL. [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag], who didn’t hit the 10-carry mark in a game until after [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] was fired, now looks like a legitimate part of the Houston Texans‘ backfield, and [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag] recently rushed for 51 yards on eight carries in a preseason game for the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Losing both to the pros left just [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] on the roster with a decent amount of SEC experience under his belt.

Napier brought over one of his players, [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], from Louisiana through the transfer portal and there’s still former five-star [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] to consider. All three should see carries throughout the season, and there’s even a chance [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] sees some action as a true freshman.

In 2021, Napier’s Louisiana team scored 34 of its 53 offensive touchdowns on the ground and three backs broke the 500-yard mark — two eclipsing 800 yards. A similar mix could be in store for his first year at Florida, and at least Johnson has played in Napier’s system before.

Here’s a look at all eight running backs listed on the 2022 Florida Gators’ fall roster.

See also:

2023 Florida Football Season Preview: Quarterbacks

This Florida RB could be one of the most impactful transfers in nation

Check out where Montrell Johnson ranks among the other running backs that transferred this offseason.

Thousands of student-athletes hit the transfer portal this offseason but only a handful of them will be hailed as the most impactful in the class once the season ends. The folks at On3 are ranking the top 10 transfers at each position this year, and Florida’s [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] pops at No. 7 on the running backs list.

It makes to see Johnson on the list. He’s stepping into a favorable position at Florida and is following his head coach from last year. The Gators lost both of their top two running backs last, so Johnson is going to be Billy Napier’s go-to guy early in the year if familiarity is something he leans on. He finished 2021 with more yards and touchdowns than the rest of the running backs’ combined career totals.

Montrell Johnson rushed for 838 yards and a team-leading 12 TDs in earning Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors last season. He shared time with the Ragin’ Cajuns (Louisiana had three rushers with at least 600 yards in 2021) and will do so again with Florida … The hope is Johnson, [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] and holdover [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag], a former five-star prospect who began his career at Miami, can team with QB [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] to give the Gators a potent rushing attack.

Two more SEC newcomers made the list ahead of Johnson. Ole Miss’ Zach Evans, who transferred from TCU, is No. 3, and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs, who came from Georgia Tech, is at No. 1. It will be interesting to see where these three backs end up once the season is finished. Many expect Johnson to break out and move up a few spots.

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Report: Florida losing former 5-star RB to transfer portal

Running back Demarkcus Bowman is in the transfer portal after just one year at Florida.

After Billy Napier cut three players from the program earlier in the week, the Florida Gators lost another scholarship player on Friday. Running back [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag], a former five-star recruit out of high school, has entered his name into the transfer portal, according to On3.

Bowman came to Gainesville in 2020 after playing his freshman year at the Clemson Tigers. That makes this his second transfer, which means he will be required to sit out for a year before playing with a new team. That might not be so different than what he would be doing at Florida, though, with [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag], [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] in UF’s running backs room.

Entering the portal doesn’t guarantee Bowman’s departure, but Florida is still over the scholarship limit and the room is too crowded for a talent that was once considered among the top 20 recruits in the nation. Bowman’s far from a bust at this point. He still possesses good speed and impressed many during spring practices. He ran the ball 14 times for 81 yards in 2021 across appearances in five games.

Florida should be okay without Bowman given the depth in the room. It also opens the door for Etienne to pick up some carries as a freshman, especially if injuries come into play. Both of last year’s starting backs, [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag], are gone and Napier likes to run the ball.

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Two more 2022 signees arrive at UF for summer semester

New faces are popping up in Gainesville as the summer semesters begin. Welcome to the Swamp, Trevor Etienne and David Conner!

A trio of early enrollees, [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris McClellan[/autotag], joined the Gators over the spring, but more members of the class of 2022 are making their way to the Swamp. Running back [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] and offensive tackle [autotag]David Conner[/autotag] both arrived on campus on Sunday and are ready to take part in the Summer A semester at Florida, according to 247Sports.

Etienne, a four-star running back out of Louisiana, was one of the rare offensive standouts in the class of 2022 for Florida and has the family name to warrant lofty expectations as a Gator. [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] and [autotag]Demarckus Bowman[/autotag] have held down the running backs room over spring, but now Etienne and a returning [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] enter the mix.

It’ll take Etienne some time to learn the playbook but look for him to contribute early on as he was one of the first players [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] sought out after taking over in Gainesville and the No. 188 overall recruit on the 247Sports composite.

Conner, a three-star tackle out of Deerfield Beach, Florida, is one of the few commitments that stayed with the Gators through the coaching change. Offensive line coaches [autotag]Rob Sale[/autotag] and [autotag]Darnell Stapleton[/autotag] think his frame and athleticism project well for an offensive tackle in the Southeastern Conference. It’ll likely take a few years of development to see him on the line every day, but Conner is setting himself up for success.

Getting to campus a bit earlier gives Conner more time to get used to his new environment and it sounds like he’ll be rooming with Florida’s running back of the future. Getting a lineman and a running back comfortable with each other early is a good sign for the team’s future chemistry.

The other members of the class of 2022 will arrive around May 22 and get settled in for the summer. The new-look Gators are finally starting to take shape and the Napier era is in full swing with a new crop of talent making their way to campus.

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Billy Napier not concerned about quarterback inconsistency so far

Florida head coach Billy Napier doesn’t seem too overly concerned about the quarterbacks inconsistency so far this spring.

The way Florida has conducted spring practices has been a breath of fresh air as the team has allowed the media to observe portions of practices after not allowing any access over the past couple of seasons. One concern the media has developed about Florida is the inconsistency at quarterback.

The media has observed quarterbacks [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] make some brilliant plays but have also watched them miss some easy throws and reads so far this spring. They asked Napier about his level of concern with his quarterbacks after the team’s second scrimmage this spring and he didn’t seem overly concerned and pointed to other positions around the quarterbacks.

“Overall, I didn’t think it was bad,” Napier said of the passing game in the second scrimmage. “Sometimes we evaluate the quarterback and if the ball’s moving and we’re scoring we think the quarterback’s doing great. But in reality a lot of times, quarterback play is dependent on the players around him.”

This makes sense considering the question marks about the Gators receiving corps. They can rely on [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag], [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] and [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] but need other receivers to emerge.

Napier said they need other wideouts to step up, so they can have reliable depth. He added that this applies to the rest of the team, too.

“I think the team as a whole lacks depth,” he said. “We need more players as a whole that do their job consistently and play winning football. The receiver position is much like every position on the team. We have a good group of ones and a couple twos we can put in the game, but after that we have to prove more.”

However, the running back group has been a bright spot for the Gators and Napier. Louisana transfer [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] have had a strong spring. The offensive line is now starting to win up front more than they did earlier this spring.

Life should become much easier for the quarterback if Florida can find some more playmakers at receiver.

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